Normally, information from scientific discoveries is funnelled into the
development of engineered products that benefit humanity. But recently a
strange turnabout in the flow of practical information has occurred. Concepts
from the field of engineering have been found extremely useful in areas of
science. From the very large aspects of the universe (i.e. big bang cosmology and
galactic and stellar evolution) to the very small aspects (i.e. the fitness of the
chemical elements and the coding of DNA for life), the cosmos is so readily and
profitably reverse-engineered by scientists and engineers as to make a
compelling argument that it was engineered in the first place. The linking of
extraordinarily complex, but stable functional structures with the production of
value provides the strong impression of a calculating intentionality, which is able
to operate in a transcendent fashion. The most coherent view of the universe is
that of a system of subsystems that efficiently interact to prepare for, develop,
and support advanced life, subject to various physical constraints. The quest for
understanding our universe as a whole benefits from the integration of
knowledge from all areas of study, including those that consider questions of
purpose, such as design engineering. The synthesis of this knowledge that
provides the most satisfying answers regarding human experience is one that
admits the recognition of purpose and the existence of an (as yet, not-wellunderstood)
engineering influence.
Keywords: cosmology, reverse-engineering, anthropic principle, engineering.
1 Introduction
Throughout the ages, many great minds have expressed a profound appreciation
for the incredible ingenuity of natural systems. Leonardo da Vinci, from his in-